Published May 01, 2025
When Lawrence + Memorial Hospital’s $81 million Emergency Department (ED) renovation and power upgrade are completed in fall 2026, there will be 57 state-of-the-art private rooms, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Two of those rooms will be specifically designed for trauma patients; two for patients suffering cardiac conditions; and eight for psychiatric evaluation. Four rooms in a quiet corner will be dedicated to pediatrics, isolating children from the fray of the adult ED.
As more fully renovated rooms come online – and with a new nurses station two-thirds complete – every aspect of the project continues to be meticulously executed to ensure optimum patient care as upgrades are completed.
Adam Kuhn, a Facilities project manager overseeing the project, summed up the daily challenges. “All the pieces of infrastructure ‒new finishings, new aesthetics, duct work in the ceilings – have to be tackled while constantly looking out for our staff and patients,” he said.
On a recent walk-through, Kuhn noted a construction barrier in a hallway with just enough room for a stretcher to pass.
“If you’re going to put a barrier in the middle of your ED – and we had to –it has to be well planned. You have to risk-assess everything. It’s an active ED and we cannot interfere with patient care.”
Karen Mackinnel, RN, ED nurse manager, said staff takes the construction in stride.
“We’re used to working in chaotic situations, no matter what, so I think the project is going well. We’re excited to use the new rooms as they come online.”
The project began in 2020 with a large-scale power upgrade for the entire hospital. A new waiting room and triage areas opened in 2023, and in early 2024, the first seven of the 57 private rooms opened to patients. Another 10 renovated rooms and the trauma and cardiac rooms are slated to open soon.
The trauma rooms feature a central “med boom” console which can be moved to bring oxygen, gas, power and other supplies to the exact location to best serve the patient. A connecting alcove between trauma rooms allows staff to quickly move between patients when time could mean life or death.
Upcoming construction will include work on the psychiatric rooms and the installation of two new CT scanners. These will be in an area previously used by Nuclear Medicine which, along with outpatient Radiology, relocated to newly renovated suites on the first floor. Also still to come is a full renovation of the third-floor inpatient Radiology area.
“Much work lies ahead, but we’re getting there,” Kuhn said. “When it’s all finished in 2026, we’re going to have a big party.”
